Did Usian Bolt Tarnish His Image - Heck No

I have been reading the morning papers and getting ticked off by the minute. The latest news story is about whether Usian Bolt has tarnished his legacy by taking a shot at Carl Lewis. In my opinion hell no, Carl opened up a discussion about drug testing policies for the Jamaican Track Team participating in the Olympics. To make a blanket statement as that, leaves some room for a verbal "back-hand" and at least Bolt stepped up to defend himself and his country. Now tell me why should endorsers walk away from him.  Bolt Has proven to be a winner who delivers, he has successfully defended his three races, was the most popular athlete in the social media circles - exactly why would sponsors walk away from him.

Carl Lewis has always been a bit angry about the younger sprinters and especially the Jamaicans.  People have to recognize that being a Jamaican is always about civic pride and accomplishments, and to back away from a juvenile statement as the one made by Lewis is non-patriotic. Don't get me wrong Carl Lewis is a heck ever athlete, but intelligence has always eluded him.  Congrats to the Jamaicans boys who induced their colleagues to bring their A games.  Congrats Usain Bolt Yohan Blake Warren Weir Shelly-Ann Fraser Veronica Campbell-Brown

Just Another Day for Lolo Jones

Lolo Jones says she's not going to change a thing.  A  day after another disappointment at the Olympics, the 30-year-old Jones told The Associated Press she has no plans to retire and would like to still be hurdling at the Rio Games in 2016.

"Last night, Gail Devers called me and said she was ... 37 when she got her last medal," Jones said of the two-time Olympic 100-meter champion. Jones is backed by big-name sponsors and has appeared on magazine covers, including a recent issue of "Time." Her charisma and childhood narrative – her family once lived in a church basement in Iowa – only add to a story that has made her one of the most marketable and high-profile athletes on the U.S. Olympic team. But she hasn't won much when the stakes are the highest.

She finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles Tuesday, 0.10 seconds behind bronze medalist Kellie Wells. At Beijing four years ago, Jones came in as the favorite and was leading the final when she hit the ninth of 10 hurdles and wound up seventh. She has no Olympic or world outdoor championship medals, and has been criticized in some places for occupying a prominent spot in her sport's limited spotlight despite the less-than-perfect results. But she makes no apologies.

"The Olympics are only once every four years so you have to take advantage of all your opportunities, both to be an inspiration to people and help support your sponsors who help you," she said. "I don't regret doing any stories or being in magazines. For me, it was a chance to do things like get tips on eating healthy and working out to people.  "It was hard work and if it made an impact on anyone in a positive way then I wouldn't change it."

Venus And Serena In Doubles Medal Hunt

The unseeded doubles team of Venus Williams and Serena WIlliams took to Court 2 Monday to begin their Beijing gold medal defense, beating Romanians Sorana Cirstea and Simona Halep in front of a spirited crowd.

The sisters were pulling double--and doubles--duty on Monday after they both had one singles matches earlier in the day. But they didn't tire against the gamely Romanians, who made the Wimbledon champs work for their 6-3, 6-2 victory.

Earlier, Venus had been on the same court for a sound 6-3, 6-1 victory over French Open finalist Sara Errani. It was on Court 2 that Venus was bundled out of Wimbledon a month ago, her first-ever loss int he first round at The Championships.

But the 2000 Sydney Olympics singles gold medalist brushed that aside and she and Serena both played well from the baseline and the net. Serena won on Court 1, beating a fellow little sister--Urszula Radwanska, Agnieszka's sibling--6-2, 6-3.

Cirstea and Halep gave the Williams sisters a solid practice on the court, however. They move ahead and play German duo Angelique Kerber and Sabine Lisicki in round two, both of whom are still alive in the singles.

Queen's Granddaughter Zara Phillips Makes Olympic Debut

Zara Phillips, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, had a few royal fans in the stands as she made her Olympic equestrian debut Sunday, earning a respectable score in the eventing dressage competition despite a slight mistake.

Phillips' grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as her mother, Princess Anne, were in the VIP seats at Greenwich Park as Phillips rode her horse, High Kingdom, through the paces of a standard dressage test to demonstrate the horse's obedience.

She scored a solid 48.10 penalty points, despite a mistake toward the beginning of her canter in the first "flying change." In the stride, the horse is supposed to change the sequence of his steps, but High Kingdom didn't respond immediately to Phillips' cues.

Cheers and applause broke out as she rode into the stadium and erupted anew when she finished. Anne, wearing a bright red canvas hat to protect against the strong sun, applauded politely at the end. Despite the bobble, Phillips said she was pleased with the performance.

"It was disappointing about his first change, but his other ones were really good," she said afterward. "But he coped with all the crowd and is only getting better." Phillips, a former world and European eventing champion, said the mistake had nothing to do with the enthusiasm from the stands -- a rousing welcome that prompted the announcer to remind the audience to keep applause to a minimum until the test was finished.

"He's very chilled," she said of her bay gelding. "That was nothing to do with the crowd. It was just inexperience and getting stronger, and he's getting stronger all the time." She said she was looking forward to Monday's cross country event, the most difficult and dangerous of the eventing tryptich, which also includes show jumping.

The course is unusually hilly with several tight turns. "He's quite quick and easy to turn so hopefully it'll be good," Phillips said. "I think he wants to get out there now; he's a bit bored of dressage."

In an indication of the respect the royal granddaughter has in the equestrian world, Phillips was warmly greeted after she competed by Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand, who will ride later Sunday.  In the first day of the dressage competition Saturday, Australia took the early lead with Germany and the United States close behind.

Ready Set Start: Usain Bolt's Legs Are Ready

A laid back Usain Bolt has decided the best way to improve his not-so-perfect start is not to worry about it, the Jamaican world record holder said on Thursday. "The more I focused on it, I think the worse it got," Bolt told Reuters in an interview following a packed news conference.

Starting has never been a work of art for Bolt as he struggled to squeeze his long legs into the blocks and then tries to get them moving at full stride but the woes have increased in the past 12 months. First there was the false start in the final of last year's world championship 100 meters that ended his chances of defending his title in South Korea.

Then a month ago at the Jamaican Olympic trials, a sluggish Bolt lost the 100 and 200 to world sprint champion and training partner Yohan Blake, as in the shorter race he was way off the pace over the opening strides.

"So I sat down with my coach," Bolt said in an interview arranged by his kit sponsor Puma. "He said stop worrying about the start and compete. So that is the plan (in London). Forget the start and get it (the race) right."

A strained hamstring that slowed him at the Jamaican trials has healed, and the world's top sprinter says he is now in championship mode with no major thought of trying to better his 2009 world record of 9.58 seconds for the 100 meters.

Social Media App Goop Launches London City Guide

goop, a digital media and e-commerce company founded by Gwyneth Paltrow, announced today the release of its new London City Guide  as part of its goop City Guides App. The London guide is the second city in a series that will feature within the goop City Guides app and is available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in the App Store 

Taking goop's popular journal category "GO" to the next level, this London City Guide sends you to many of goop's much-loved and often undiscovered spots. Featuring an exclusive video tour with Gwyneth around some of her favorite places in her neighborhood, this is goop's selection of the city's best. From the most entertaining kids spots, to the city's top restaurants and favorite neighborhood gastropubs, under-the-radar boutiques and outdoor markets, it's all the information you'll need to get around London and much more. 

A resource for first-time visitors to London and city dwellers alike, the guide is filled with many under-the-radar places and classic favorites goop has discovered over the years. 

"We at goop proudly bring you our London City Guide. London is a place I call home for at least half of the year and am so excited to be sharing everything goop loves to see and do in the city - from old-school classics to the best of what's new in food, shopping, decorating and more," said Paltrow. 

Over the past four years, goop has grown into an eminent lifestyle publication, dedicated to informing and positively inspiring its audience. goop gives readers access to exclusive collaborations, recipes, travel guides, fashion, wellness tips, cultural notes and more. Incorporating the knowledge of expert contributors and tastemakers, along with our own editorial eye and uncompromising style, issues are delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday. 

Usain Bolt Coming to a Broadand Near You

Despite recent injuries, Dawes is confident world record holder Bolt will be in peak condition as he attempts to retain both individual titles and help Jamaica keep their 4 x 100m crown. "He's back fully," Dawes said. "He has been training very, very hard and his performance is on track."We expect he'll be fully fit by the time the Olympics come around." Dawes believes Bolt and sprint rival Yohan Blake could reach new heights in London for the Jamaican team. "Both of them are at the top of their game. "If the conditions are ideal, then we are going to see something fantastic. We may see records go. "They are 100% fit and 100% raring to go. They are mentally fit and they are going to be going all out." First up for Bolt will be the men's 100m's on 4 August in the Olympic Stadium, with his defense of the 200m title starting three days later on 7 August. The men's 4 x 100m Relay starts on 10 August.

The Official Olympic Badminton Draw Released Today

The draw the badminton competition was held at the Main Press Centre in the Olympic Park earlier today.  In the women's singles draw, world champion and number one seed Wang Yihan of China will face the unseeded Michelle Li of Canada in her opening match of the Games.

In the men's singles, Olympic champion and number two seed Lin Dan of China will face unseeded Scott Evans of Ireland in his first match of the competition. Number one seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia will play Finland's Ville Lang, who progressed to the third round at Beijing 2008.

Third seed Chen Long of China drew Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand, who is in good form after winning the Singapore Open in June, while number four seed, China's Chen Jin, will play Przemyslaw Wacha of Poland. In the mixed doubles, top seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei of China will face Great Britain's medal hopefuls Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier in the group stage of the tournament.

Adcock and Bankier were runners-up to Zhang and Zhao at the 2011 world championships at Wembley Arena, but the British pair have since beaten their Chinese opponents twice in three meetings. 

In the men's doubles, the Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medallists, four-times world champions and number one seeds Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng of China, should progress to the knockout stage after they were drawn with pairings from Australia, Chinese Taipei and Germany.

On the other side of the draw, number two seeds Chung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae of Korea will feature alongside 2005 world champions Howard Bach and Tony Gunawan of the USA, Malaysian battlers Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, and Japan's Naoki Kawamae and Shoji Sato.

In the women's doubles, China will be seeking their fifth consecutive Olympic title from their top pairing, world champions and number one seeds Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang.

Bells Will Be Ringing For London Games Opening Ceremony

With one week to go the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games, millions of people across the UK are preparing to join in a day of celebrations on Friday the 27 July. The day will commence with bells ringing across the UK at 8.12am for 3 minutes as quickly and loudly as possible as part of the London 2012 Festival commission 'All The Bells' by Turner Prize winning artist Martin Creed.  Thousands of people have already registered and the performance has captured the imagination of organisations including The Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, The British Army, The RAF, the National Trust, The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers, the National Theatre, the Church of England, the Arts Council and Creative Scotland, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, The National Football Museum, The Sports Heritage Network, Discovering Places, The Churches  Conservation Trust, the Mayor of London, the Archbishop of Westminster, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Open Morris, The British Federation of Youth Marching Band Organisations, The Girl Guides Association, The Royal British Legion, the Women’s Institute and many more.

The event will be broadcast by the BBC to a potential live audience of over 10 million people across the UK on TV, radio and online - including BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 2 Chris Evans Breakfast Show and BBC local radio stations. Anyone can take part by ringing any kind of bell for three minutes - from experienced change ringing experts of tower bells to enthusiastic children with hand bells, bicycle bells and doorbells.

London 2012 has announced that from today subscribers to the latest update of the free official London 2012 Join In App will be able to tap or shake their phone like a hand bell to release the Martin Creed bell sequence. This will allow users to join in with the event whether they are on the way to work or at home. Information about how to get the latest update of the Join In App is available at . To get involved in ‘All The Bells’ all individuals, communities and organizations are encouraged to register at www.allthebells.com and register their interest in taking part on the day, register their own bell-ringing event for others to join, and even download the Martin Creed ringtone for free.

London Gets Ready For Olympics Games Opening Day

With one week to go until the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games millions of people across the UK are preparing to join in a day of celebrations on Friday, July 27th. This will mark the final day of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay – presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. Already 10 million people have lined the route of the Torch Relay, and on the final day of its journey, the Relay will gather momentum at Hampton Court Palace where Torchbearers will carry the Flame around the grounds of the Palace and through the world’s oldest hedge maze.  The Flame will then be carried on board Gloriana, The Queen’s Rowbarge which was presented to and named by Her Majesty The Queen in a ceremony that took place earlier this year and will provide a lasting legacy to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. The Flame will light a ceremonial cauldron on board Gloriana and over the course of the morning seven Torchbearers will light a Torch from the cauldron and carry the Flame for about eight minutes each at selected areas that are viewable from the banks of the River.  Gloriana will be rowed by 16 oarsmen and women who will be drawn from a squad of 28 rowers on-board on the day. 

The squad is made up of former British Olympic crews dating back to the 1948 Games and ‘Olympians of the future’ from London Youth Rowing. Gloriana will be accompanied by a small number of craft designed to showcase London’s waterborne heritage as the Flame makes its way to Tower Bridge. 

The day will begin with bells ringing across the UK, as quickly and loudly as possible at 8.12 a.m. for three minutes. This is part of the London 2012 Festival commission 'All The Bells' by Turner Prize winning artist Martin Creed.  Anyone can take part by ringing any kind of bell for three minutes – from change ringing experts to enthusiastic children with hand bells, bicycle bells and door bells.    Over the course of the morning seven Torchbearers on board the Gloriana will light a Torch from the cauldron and carry the Flame for about eight minutes each. The finale to the public participation in the Torch Relay will see the last Torchbearer on the Gloriana carry the Flame to Tower Bridge at approximately 12.45pm. The Flame will then remain out of view until it appears at the Opening Ceremony that evening.  The worldwide broadcast of Danny Boyle's 'Isles of Wonder' Olympic Opening Ceremony will commence at 9pm to an estimated audience of 1 billion people around the world.

USANA Health Science To Sponsor Over 60 Athletes In 2012 Olympics

In a statement published by USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: USNA), the global nutritional company, confirmed that more than 60 of its product-sponsored athletes, will participate in the 2012 London Games. USANA proudly provides NSF and HFL-tested nutritional products to more than 600 professional athletes worldwide.

"We are honored to be sponsoring such a talented group of athletes and wish them all the best as they prepare to compete for gold in their respectable events," said Dan Macuga, USANA's chief communications officer.

Former Olympians Sam Stosur (Australia), Liezel Huber (United States), and Beijing bronze medalist,Zheng Jie (China) will travel to London, alongside fellow WTA players, Kim Clijsters (Belgium) and Aleksandra Wozniak (Canada), who will make their Summer Games debut this year. Other USANA-sponsored athletes competing in London include:

• Trinidad and Tobago native, and Athens bronze medalist, George Bovell (50, 100 free, 100 backstroke)
• U.S. distance runner and Athens silver medalist, Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi
• Canadian RSX windsurfer and two-time Games participant, Nikola Girke
• Caymanian freestyle swimmer and Beijing competitor, Brett Fraser (50, 100, 200 free)
• Australian flatwater kayaker and 2008 Olympian, Tate Smith (K4 1000m)
• Mexican breaststroke swimmer, Christian Schurr (200 breaststroke)
• U.S freestyle swimmer, Conor Dwyer (400 individual free, 800 free relay)
• Mexican 3-meter springboard diver, Julian Sanchez
• Korean Men's and Women's National Handball Teams
• Mexican Men's National Olympic Soccer Team

"I am coming into the Olympics feeling healthy and confident in the year of hard work that I have put in, and believe I have a chance to take the gold home," said Bovell. "The anticipation of approaching the ultimate opportunity for greatness in sport is something indescribable, that gives every action I take a purpose, and makes me feel completely alive. I want to remember this feeling as long as I live."

"To perform my best in London, I need my health to be at its optimum level and am thankful that I can trust USANA to provide me with products that help me get there," Girke said. "I am very excited about the upcoming Games and feel that I am ready for whatever is thrown my way."

Founded in 1992, USANA Health Sciences is a U.S.-based nutritional company that manufactures high-quality supplements, personal care, energy, and weight-management products in their FDA-registered facility in Salt Lake City, Utah.

USANA's products, tested by NSF International and used by more than 600 professional athletes, are developed by the company's award-winning team of scientists and sold directly to Preferred Customers and Associates throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and through USANA's wholly-owned subsidiary in China, Baby Care, Ltd. Named one of Outside magazine's "Best Places to Work" for three consecutive years, USANA has received more than 100 state, national and international accolades, including Utah Best of State, Stevie Awards, Australian Business Awards, NutriSearch Editor's Choice and others. 

Paralympic Torch 24-hour Relay Launches Countdown To London Games

As the countdwon to the London 2012 Paralympic Games begins,  the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has announced highlights from the Paralympic Torch 24-hour Relay route and 50 of the key sporting events that will feature during the Games.  The Paralympic Motto, “Spirit in Motion,” represents the strong will of every Paralympian and implies that the IPC is an organization on the move.  Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair, said: “With just 50 days to go these highlights serve as a great taster for the Paralympic Games. I’m looking forward to crowds coming out to line the streets and cheer on the inspirational teams of Torchbearers, and as the Paralympic Games get set to amaze us all I am delighted that we still have some great tickets to give everyone the chance to be there.”

Stoke Mandeville is today welcoming the Olympic Torch Relay, but in 50 days time Stoke Mandeville Stadium will be the venue for the official Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony on 28 August. Four flames from London, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh will be united to form the Paralympic Flame which will be taken on a 24-hour overnight relay to the Paralympic Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium on 29 August.

The 24-hour relay - presented by BT, Lloyds TSB and Sainsbury’s - will see the Paralympic Flame carried 87 miles by 580 inspirational Torchbearers, working in teams of five, from Stoke Mandeville  to London. It will travel through some of the communities of Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, before visiting all six host boroughs and a number of internationally recognizable London landmarks. From the iconic Abbey Road crossing in the north-west of the city to historic Greenwich in the south-east, the Flame will come right through the heart of London.

Passing down Regent Street from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus, the Flame will go by Westminster Abbey and Downing Street as well as Trafalgar Square – where there will be live entertainment and sport screened throughout the Paralympic Games. The Flame will cross the Thames over some of London’s most famous bridges: Lambeth Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge will have a spectacular Agitos on display – the symbol of the Paralympic Games.

London 2012 organizers are encouraging over 15,000 Local Leaders to help light the way to the Paralympic Games.

In addition to the sport, the London 2012 Festival will also continue throughout the Paralympic Games showcasing world leading artists in events across the UK. On Tuesday there will be a presentation of program highlights for “Unlimited: the Revelation starts here” at the Southbank Centre in London – an unprecedented celebration of arts and culture by deaf and disabled artists.

Yohan Blake To Race At Spritzen Leichtathletik Meet Before Olympics

Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake will compete in Switzerland next week in his first race since beating Usain Bolt over 100m and 200m in national Olympic trials. Organizers of the Spitzen Leichtathletik meet in Lucerne said Blake will run in the 100 next Tuesday.
"It's his first run after the trials and perhaps his only run before the Olympics," meeting director Terry McHugh told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Blake, the 100 world champion, clocked a personal best and world's season-leading time of 9.75 seconds to beat Olympic champion Bolt in Kingston last month. He also ran a world-leading 19.80 to win the 200.
Blake is scheduled to open his London Olympics in the 100 heats on Aug. 4.
For 26 years, Spitzen Leichtathletik has been renowned for being well organized without the pressure and intensity that accompanies a top-tier Diamond League meeting.
"An athlete needs to remain competitive but they don't need to face the world," McHugh said. "The meeting has a reputation for being a fast track. Most importantly, it suits their plan."
The 100 meet record is held by another Jamaican, Nesta Carter, who timed 9.86 in 2010.
Blake has pleasant memories of running in Switzerland.
Last September in Zurich, he made his first competitive appearance after becoming world champion in Daegu, South Korea.
Blake set a then-personal best of 9.82 to win the Diamond League final at the famed Weltklasse meet.

London's Richmond Park Home Of The Olympic Rings

The latest official Olympic Rings spectacular in the UK was unveiled at Richmond Park in London, the Rings were mown into the grass by the Royal Parks’ shire horses and are visible on the Heathrow flight path, ready to welcome athletes and visitors to the London 2012 Games.

The Rings which are approximately 300 meters wide and over 135 meters tall are set to be another exciting feature in London for the duration of the Olympic Games.  They have been mown into the grass by six of The Royal Park’s shire horses and can be seen from the air as Richmond Park lies under the flight path of Heathrow airport.
The Rings will be maintained by two of the horses - Jim and Murdoch, who regularly cut road side verges in Richmond Park. The grass will be regularly trimmed throughout the summer and are set to become more defined over time.
Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair said: 'The Olympic Rings are an iconic symbol, inspiring athletes and uniting people around the world. To athletes they represent the culmination of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport. These Rings will excite and inspire visitors coming to London.’
Adam Curtis, Assistant Park Manager of Richmond Park for The Royal Parks said: ‘The Royal Parks came up with the idea to create huge Rings in the grass here at Richmond and LOCOG loved it! I am so proud we‘ve been able to achieve such an effective representation of the Olympic symbol.
‘Jim and Murdoch can manoeuvre the mower around tight corners, and regularly cut the grass here at Richmond Park - they are our secret weapon because they maintain the Park without damaging the unique grassland and wildlife.’
Shire horses have been used to maintain the park for many years as they are the best tool for rolling bracken and are especially useful during the winter when the ground is soft. Horses have worked in Richmond Park since 1637 when the Park was enclosed as a royal hunting ground by King Charles First.
The Olympic Rings are one of the world’s most recognisable logos. The five rings represent the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.
Giant sets of Olympic Rings are being installed at iconic sites across the United Kingdom to excite and inspire people ahead of the Games and to demonstrate that we are ready to welcome the world.
Part of the Olympic Road Race Cycling route will also pass through Richmond Park. 11 Olympic and Paralympic events will take place across six Royal Parks during the Games – Hyde Park, Greenwich Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park and Richmond Park.
Richmond Park has changed little over the centuries and, although it is surrounded by human habitation, the varied landscape of hills, woodland gardens and grasslands set among ancient trees abounds in wildlife. The Park has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. The royal connections to this park probably go back further than any of the others, beginning with Edward (1272-1307), when the area was known as the Manor of Sheen. The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII's reign

                                                                                                                                                  

Olympic Torch Continues To Burn On Day 43

The Olympic Flame has been welcomed in Birmingham, Coventry and Leicester over the last three days, as the London 2012 Torch Relay continued its journey around the British Isles. Day 43 of the 70-day relay began in Derby on Saturday with Paralympian Leon Taylor, 37, passing the Flame to 22-year-old Glen Croft, who has been selected as a member of the British archery squad for London 2012. The Flame then travelled more than 79 miles, passing landmarks such as the National Memorial Arboretum and Tamworth Castle, on its way to Birmingham, with a total of 174 Torchbearers taking part, including singer Cliff Richard, gymnast Kristian Thomas and triathlete Jodie Stimpson. A free open-air concert was held in Birmingham to welcome the Flame, with pop group The Wanted headlining the event. The following day saw 157 more Torchbearers given their moment to shine as they carried the Olympic Flame, including 12-year-old Dominic Macgowan, the youngest person to take part in the relay, 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Georgina Harland and Vadsana Sinthavong, who works for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Vadsana, who joined the WFP in 2005, helps to ensure that 152,000 pre-primary and primary school children in the poorest districts of Laos receive highly nutritious food, which encourages them to attend school and improves their concentration in class. She is also involved in a joint UNWFP-IOC project that will distribute sports kits to children in her countrythroughout the developing world. The IOC has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and TOP Partner Samsung on the project, which will benefit more than 150,000 young people living in camps for refugees and internally displaced people in 20 countries throughout Asia, Africa and America. After an evening celebration in Coventry on Sunday evening, the Olympic Flame continued its journey through the Midlands on Monday, travelling over 100 miles on its way to Leicester

Olympic Games Tickets Quite A Piece Of Art

The London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG) has officially unveiled the design of the tickets for this year’s Olympic Games. Each ticket design features a pictogram for the corresponding sport, while the color scheme reflects the venue at which the event will take place, ensuring spectators know exactly where they are going. The tickets will also feature a hologram, a barcode and the name of the booker, as well as several other security features to reduce counterfeiting.  This will ensure that every ticket can be traced to the person who purchased it. LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton said: “With the Olympic Flame now making its journey towards the Olympic Stadium, I can’t remember a more exciting week on the road to London 2012. It is important now that people keep their tickets in a safe place ready for Games time and also to be wary of websites and organizations claiming to have Games tickets to sell. In many cases, they simply do not have them to sell and there is a real danger people will end up being out of pocket and missing out on seeing the Games. If in doubt, check our website and be 100 per cent certain you are buying from an authorized source.”Tickets for the Games are still available from LOCOG and other authorized sources. The majority of tickets will be sold online  and there is also a full list of authorized ticket resellers available on the website.  LOCOG also has a URL checker on its website, which will confirm whether any website claiming to sell London 2012 tickets is genuine or not.

ESPN The Magazine Reveals List Of Athlete For Body Issue

It's that time of year, when the powers-that-be at ESPN The Magazine reveal the "body beautiful" athletes who will grace the July "Body Issue" in their birthday suit.  The final cut of sports figures will include Rob Gronkowski, Maurice Jones-Drew, Tyson Chandler and Abby Wambach are among others .  Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, New York Rangers forward Brad Richards and WNBA star Candace Parker will also appear in the July 13 edition.   With the London Games this summer, the list announced Wednesday is loaded with Olympians, including gymnast Danell Leyva, sprinter Carmelita Jeter, decathlete Ashton Eaton and members of the U.S. women's volleyball team. The magazine's editor in chief, Chad Millman, says they try to pick athletes who "just recently popped." Gronkowski is a classic example of that, the New England Patriots tight end emerged as one of the NFL's biggest offensive stars this past season - and it doesn't hurt that he has a penchant for appearing shirtless in photos and the magazine had a commitment from him way back last fall. 

Athletes featured in previous years have included Blake Griffin, Hope Solo and Jose Reyes.

David Beckham Left Off Great Britain's Squad For London Olympics

Breaking news! David Beckham was not selected for thin Britain's Olympic football squad in a huge blow for the former England captain's hopes of crowning the twilight of his career in style.
The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder had been widely expected to be named as one of the three over-age players in Stuart Pearce's Under-23 squad for the London Games in July and August.
"Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me," Beckham, 37, said in quotes relayed by his spokesman on Thursday.
British media reports said Manchester United's long-serving Welsh winger Ryan Giggs, Wales striker Craig Bellamy and Manchester City right back Micah Richards, who missed out on England's Euro 2012 campaign, had been chosen.  There was no official word on why coach Pearce had overlooked Beckham who has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan in a glittering career that has brought titles in England and Spain as well as the United States. He watched Beckham play for the Galaxy recently having included him in his initial 35-man squad. 
The announcement for the final 18-man squad is due next week. Beckham told reporters last month: "I don't want to be picked on a shirt sale or stadium filler. I want to be picked because of what I can bring to the team."  Beckham was England's most capped outfield player with 115 appearances but has not played for the national team since 2009. The world famous trend-setter had accepted his time with England was over despite not officially retiring from the international game with the London Olympics in sight.

As a globally recognized figure, he has had a major role both in London winning the Olympics and in the build-up to the Games, helping bring the flame back from Greece. He had been tipped by media to light the stadium cauldron when the Games begin in his east London birthplace on July 27.
This now looks unlikely while he definitely will not be able to be the British flag bearer at the opening ceremony as he is not competing.  Critics who believe football has an uneasy place in the Games because of the vast sums of money professionals earn had said they would be uncomfortable with the Olympics becoming a "David Beckham show". The Olympic football tournament, originally designed for amateurs but now the only Games event to have an age limit, is not so highly regarded in Europe where the World Cup and European Championship are seen as the elite tests.
Olympic football is popular among South American players, however. Hosts Britain, taking part in their first Olympic football finals since 1960, will kick off their bid for gold against Senegal at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium on July 26.  The Welsh Football Association, along with the Scots and Northern Irish, have worried that the inclusion of their players in a rare British squad for the Games could affect their football independence but football's world governing body FIFA has tried to allay their fears.

Gatlin And Gay Gear For A Meeting With Usain Bolt

Knowing oh too well about the history of the rivalry between Jamaican track and field team and the TeamUSA, the thought about the Men's 100m and 200m finals brings with it a certain adrenaline rush.  Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay Monday qualified for the London Olympics with sub-9.90 second times at the US trials.  2004 Olympic champion, Gatlin, clocked 9.80 in the 100m ahead of Gay, who finished in 9.86. They are both waiting to profit from a Jamaican Usain Bolt slip up.

But with recent news out of Usian Bolt's camp, Bolt is not planning on slipping up not one bit, even breaking bad habits of getting more sleep.  The US team's third sprinter will be Ryan Bailey, whose time of 9.93 was one hundredth of a second ahead of Michael Rodgers.  The first five to finish all dipped under 10 seconds, with Darvis Patton finishing in 9.96.  It will be Gatlin's first Olympics since Athens, having missed the 2008 Beijing games due to a doping ban. 

"I have a lot left in the tank. This season so far has been undefeated and I'm just trying to ride that wave," said Gatlin.

Dwain Chambers won the Aviva 2012 UK trials on Saturday, but his time of 10.25 was seven hundredths of a second outside the 'A' qualification time he required. The final place in the women's 100m US team will be decided by either a run-off or the toss of a coin after Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh finished in a dead heat for third place.

With no tie-break procedure included in their regulations, USA Track and Field announced that both athletes will be given the choice of their preferred method. World champion, Carmelita Jeter and Tianna Madison took the first two places.LaShawn Merritt recorded the fastest time in the world this year to win the men's 400m. The 2008 Olympic champion, also returning from a doping ban, finished in 44.86 ahead of Tony McQuay and Bryshon Nellum , who both recorded personal bests to complete the US trio in the event. In the women's event, Sanya Richards-Ross also recorded a world-best for 2012 so far with a time of 49.28 to finish comfortably ahead of DeeDee Trotter and Francena McCorory.

July 4th Capitol Concert to Honor TeamUSA Ahead Of London Games

This July 4th, America's biggest Independence Day celebration kicks off our country's 236th birthday with a special salute to our Olympians and Paralympians as they prepare for the London 2012 games.  Eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will host the tribute to Team USA, honoring present and past athletes of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, and featuring five-time Academy Award-winner John Williams conducting his "Olympic Fanfare and Theme."  Acclaimed British tenor Russell Watson will perform "Because We Believe" (written and performed by Andre Bocelli for the closing ceremony of the 2006 Olympic games in Turin, Italy) in celebration of the Olympic spirit and to welcome the athletes to his native England.  With the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop, more than a dozen competing Olympians will be cheered on by a crowd of hundreds of thousands, including:
Khatuna Lorig - Archery (and most recently credited as Jennifer Lawrence's teacher for the recurve bow for HUNGER GAMES);
Jennifer Gillom - Basketball (Olympic Gold medal winner and assistant coach to the U.S. Women's Team);
Sarah Robles - Weightlifting (and top ranked U.S. women's weightlifter in ALL weight classes and top U.S. finisher in men and women in 2011 World Championships);
Daryl Homer - Fencing (ranked #1 in the U.S.);
Rachel Dawson – Women's Field Hockey (Captain of the U.S. team);
Bobby Lea - Cycling (competing in his second Olympics);
Marti Malloy - Judo (Gold winner in the USO Judo National Championships);
Arielle Martin - BMX Cycling (and whose husband is currently serving in the Army);
Amanda Clark - Sailing (competing in her second Olympics);
David Wagner and Nick Taylor - Wheelchair Tennis (doubles partners who won gold medals at the 2004 Summer Paralympics and the 2008 games);
Corey Cogdell – Shooting (Bronze medal winner); and
Suzanne Stettinius – Modern Pentathlon.
A CAPITOL FOURTH is the country's premier birthday party, celebrating our nation's independence as well as the many things that make America great, which, this year, includes our Olympians.  The multi award-winning event will air live in HD from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on PBS Wednesday, July 4 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET , as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.   This resounding civic event can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide. 
The event is hosted by Emmy Award-winner Tom Bergeron (DANCING WITH THE STARS), and also features: AMERICAN IDOL winner Phillip Phillips ; two-time Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick performing songs from the hit Broadway musical NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT with four-time Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara; acclaimed Broadway and television star Megan Hilty (SMASH); singer-songwriter Javier Colon (winner of THE VOICE); country music star Josh Turner ; R&B superstars Kool & The Gang; and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly , topped off by the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation. 
The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.  
For the event, executive producer Jerry Colbert and producer Michael Colbert have assembled award-winning production teams that feature the top Hollywood talent behind some of television's most prestigious entertainment awards shows.  The team includes: Emmy award-winning producer Walter C. Miller, whose credits include the GRAMMY AWARDS and COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS; award-winning director Paul Miller whose credits include THE COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE; and veteran television writer Jon Macks.
Capital Concerts is the production force behind two of television's longest-running and highest-rated live programs commemorating America's most important holidays.  THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT , the nation's tribute to our men and women in uniform, and A CAPITOL FOURTH , our country's biggest birthday party, have consistently ranked among the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade.  Both holiday specials have been honored with over 70 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Telly Award, the Golden Cine Award, the Videographer Award, the National Education Association Award, the Aurora Award, the Christopher Award, the Communicator's Award, the AXIEM Award, the Omni Award and the Writer's Guild of America Award.